In Japan, a bath is run to signal relaxation; cleanliness is merely a byproduct, not the aim. This seems to me to be a wonderful approach and one I’ve tried to adopt, filling the bath with scented water and reclining with a good book whenever the world has made me weary.
While the recipient of this genre of gift may not be enlightened to this school of thinking, they’d struggle to deny that a bath is a far more luxurious and joy-giving way to wash than showering. Giving one of the below is therefore more than merely a nice something to put in a bath, it’s the encouragement to take some time to rebalance and escape the rigours of daily life… //
Lucy Annabella Discovery Bath Milk Collection / These would be ideal for anyone who likes a chic bottle to display – both these nourishing organic bath milks come in pretty glass bottles housed in a black and white box. Date Night is filled with patchouli and ylang ylang and Cloud Nine a more citrussy affair featuring lemongrass and sweet orange oil.
Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils / I know I bang on about these a lot but they really are special. I give them often as gifts and everyone I’ve ever given one to is now a convert. Pictured are De-Stress Mind & Revive Morning, which are two of my favourites, though I’ve yet to try one that doesn’t please.
Prismologie Bath Oil with Vetiver & Jade / Know someone who likes a more traditionally ‘masculine’ scent? Get them this – the vetiver is the key ingredient in lots of aftershaves, lending them a citrussy outdoorsiness. If, like me, you wondered why Prismologie have included jade, it’s because it’ll offer a little gentle exfoliation so your skin can absorb the goodness of the tamanu and apple seed oils.
Aromaworks Serenity Aromabomb Duo / Forget everything you think you know about bath bombs: these are nothing like the ghastly skin-stripping ones of yore. Containing Himalayan Sea Salt and essential oils, they smell heavenly but also nourish and purify.
Lola’s Apothecary Restorative Winter Clarifying Bath & Shower Oil / Anyone prone to wintery coughs will love this; the blend of marjoram, eucalyptus and peppermint oil makes tense muscles melt, tickle coughs subside and helps decongest.